Apparatus for treating textile goods and more particularly stockings which are mounted on moving forms



Apnl 19, 1938. F. SCHUSTFR 2,114,432

APPARATus FOR TREATING TEXTILE GOODS ANDMQRE PARTICULARLY STOCKINGS WHICH ARE MOUNTED 0N MOVING FORMS Filed-Dec. '7, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l FRITZ 5C H R Aprll 19, 1938. sg us'i'p- 2,114,432

APPARATUS FOR TREATING'TEXTILE GOODS AND MORE PARTICULARLY STOCKINGS WHICH ARE- MOUNTED ON MOVING FORMS S Filed Dec. 7, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 19, 1938. F. SCHUSTFR 2,114,432

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE GOODS AND MORE PARTICULARLY STOCKINGS WHICH ARE MOUNTED ON MOVING FORMS Filed Dec. 7, 1936 -3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f7 A 4 z;

F n-z. Sc -IUS EK INVEMTQE Patented Apr. 19, 1938 I 2,114,432

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE GOODS AND MORE PARTICULARLY STOCKINGS WHICH ARE MOUNTED 0N MOVING FORMS Fritz Schuster, Chemnitz, Germany Application December 7, 1936, Serial No. 114,718

I Germany January 18, 1936 20 Claims. (Cl. 223-60) This invention relates to an apparatus for to a pressing treatment, whilst at the same time treating and shaping hollow or tubular textile the articles are maintained for a suflicient period goods, and more particularly stockings, which, in contact with the pressing elements. for the purpose of carrying out the treatment and A further object is to provide anqapparatus of shaping, are mounted on moving forms, the said this kind which will not be unduly large'as com- 5 treatment including essentially a pressing oppared with the output obtained. eration. A still further object of the invention is to de- It is known to arrange pairs of pressing plates vise a'form of apparatus in which will be united on either side of the track followed by the forms the advantages of the existing apparatus whilst I on which the articles to be pressed are mounted avoiding the disadvantages thereof. 10 and to move the individual plates of each pair In the accomplishment of these and other obrelative to one another and to the forms in such jects and advantages which will become apparent a manner that the articles mounted on the forms as the description proceeds a method is employed are subjected to a pressure treatment between which consists in mounting the articles under the said plates. An essential condition for the treatment on continuously moving forms and sub- 15 satisfactory operation of a machine of this known jecting the articles thus mounted to a pressing kind-is that the forms are moved intermittently. treatment by means of pressing elements, such During the pressing operation between the pairs as pairs of plates, which for the actual pressing of plates the forms require to be stationary, whilst operation are moved together with the said forms after the pressing plates have been lifted from through the machine. 20 the forms the latter are again advanced. In the preferred embodiment ofthis invention, Since machines -of this kind are normally comthe pressing plates are carried by two driving elebined with other treating apparatus, such as ments which each traverse the machine over enddrying chambers and the like, it follows that the less tracks and are symmetrically arranged on movement through the additional apparatus must opposite sides of the track followed by the forms.

25 also be intermittent, so that the overall length When the pairs of pressing plates enter the form of thecomplete machine is comparatively large, track the individual plates are conducted. for a and above all the output of the machine is small certain distance parallel to but spaced from the in relation to its size. These disadvantages are form with which they are to engage and the due solely to the intermittent movement of the plates are then pressed against the form. This 30 forms, arrangement is particularly advantageous when Machines have also been proposed for the treatthe articles being treated are made of fine fabric ment of stockings mounted on forms, wherein the such as artificial silk stockings, since it obviates forms are moved continuously and the stockings any strain on, and deformation of,- the fine artimounted thereon are subjected to a pressure ficial silk fabric of the stocking which may be set 35 treatment between pairs of rollers. In this type up even by the smallest movement on the part ofof apparatus the disadvantages arising from an the form in relation to the pressing plates. Likeintermittent movement of the forms are avoided, wisethe pressing plates when leaving the form but on the other hand there is a further disadtrack are first lifted evenly from the form and 40 vantage due to the nature of this type of appathen guided for a certain distance parallel to the 40 ratus. form before ultimately diverging for the return It has been found'in practice that the stockmovement to the initial point of treatment. Prefings or other articles whilst mounted on the forms erably for this purpose the plates are furnished require to be subjected to a pressure treatment at their rear, taken in relation to the direction of for a certain length of time in order to accommovement, with abutments which extend beyond '45 plish the requisite shaping and pressing of the the pressing surface. These abutments move in articles. In passing the forms having the arpairs on to a wedge provided at the outlet end ticles mounted thereon between rollers, the time of the apparatus and merge into a parallel guide of treatment during which the articles are in which causes the parallel movement of the plates contact with the rollers, that is to say, during in spaced relation to the forms as above de- 50 which a pressure is exerted on the fabric is obscribed. viously short. The drive for the moving forms preferably is It is the primary object of the present invention positively coupled with the drive for the plates. to provide means by which textile articles, such The plates are mounted on endless chains, the

as stockings, mounted on forms may be subjected path ofeach of which consists of two lengths as running parallel to each other, the one nearer the forms being shorter than the other, so that the chain sections on the parts of the tracks connecting the two lengths are inclined outwardly away from the form track. This arrangement is obtained by the special disposal of the guide wheels and the fixed guides for the endless chains. It has the object of ensuring under all circumstances that after the lifting of the pressing plates from the forms there will be no further contact with the articles on the forms when the pressing plates are deflected from their straight run through the machine.

The pressing plates are so mounted as to be capable of a rocking movement in relation to their supporting chains and also so as to be capable of a reciprocatory movement across the chains. This arrangement has the advantage of causing each pressing plate to be so adjusted in relation to the form with which it is engaged that during the pressing operation it acts evenly on the article, for example, the stocking, at all points.

Preferably each pressing plate is mounted on its supporting chain mid-way of its width, for example, by means of a pin and slot connection, flat springs being provided which bear against the marginal zones of the plate for the purpose of holding the plate resiliently in a certain neutral position. It is, of course, also possible to employ other constructions for the same purpose.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:--

Figure 1 is an elevational view of one embodi- 'ment of the machine according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, partly in section.

Figure 3 illustrates on enlarged scale the method of mounting a pressing plate on its supporting chain.

Figure 4 illustrates on enlarged scale and somewhat diagrammatically the outlet end of the apparatus.

Figure 5 illustrates on enlarged scale the operation which takes place at the leading-in end of the apparatus.

Figure 6 illustrates a machine embodying modified form of pressing plates.

Referring now to the drawings, there is provided on the base I of the apparatus a frame 2 composed of pillars and supports. In this frame there are arranged two gearwheels 3 and l which mesh with each other and are caused to rotate by a suitable drive (not shown). On the shafts of these gear wheels there are fixed sprocket wheels 5 and 6. The sprocket wheel 5 is connected by a driving chain 1 with a sprocket wheel 8, which is rigidly connected with a sprocket wheel 9, over which runs the chain l0 carrying the pressing plates. A similar arrangement is provided on the opposite side of the form'track. Similar reference characters have been employed to denote like parts.

The sprocket wheels 9 are: mounted on vertically disposed shafts H. The forms, which in this embodiment are shown as upright, are mounted on the chain l2 in any suitable manner, and the form track comprising the said chain l2 and the forms I! moves in the direction of the arrow P. I

For the purpose of illustration the forms are shown to consist of flat solid metal. They may, however, also be hollow and, if desired, heated either directly or indirectly in any known manner.

On the chains III, which are disposed symmetrically opposite to each other, there are 10- cated the pressing plates H. The particular method of mounting the pressing plates is illustrated by Figure 3. The pressing plate I4 is provided at its center with an abutment l5 having a slot l6. On the chain Hi there is situated a corresponding bearing member l1 having a pin l8 engaging in the slot IS. A flat spring H, which is bent about the free end of the abutment I5 and two pins 20 in the bearing member, bears with its two free ends against the edges of the plate H for the purpose of holding the latter resiliently in a, neutral or midposition. On either side of the form track there are situated guide faces 2|, along which the chains 10 move.

At the leading-in end of the apparatus, as shown in Figure 5, there is also provided a special guide 22 which lies substantially parallel to but spaced from the guide face 2| at this point. The pressing plates M are provided at or near their leading edges with outstanding lugs 40 having upstanding pins ll which, as the form is about to enter into its effective position, are engaged by the guide 22 to cause the pressing plate to swing round againstthe action of the spring I9 into a position in which it is parallel to the form track. Each presser plate travels for a short distance in this position parallel to the form track before it, as shown in the case of the presser plate on the right hand side of Figure 5, is pressed by its spring I9 against the form and accordingly against the article under treatment, for example, the stocking. I

The endless chains l0 are so mounted (by means of the disposition of the gear wheels 9 and the guides 2|) that the two parallel parts thereof are of unequal length, that part A (see Figures 2 and 5) which is disposed nearer the form track being shorter than the other part B and joining the same through an outwardly diverging part C. It will be apparent from Figure 5 that by reason of this arrangement the pressing plates are able to perform their turning movement at either end of the apparatus without entering into contact with the forms during this part of their movement.

The pressing plates are also provided at their upper ends with abutments 23. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, these abutments are situated at the rear of the pressing plates taken in relation to the direction of movement of the form track. At the outlet end of the machine there is provided a wedge member 24, which merges into a parallel guide 25. As the abutments 23 encounter the wedge member 24, the rear ends of the pressing plates are wedged apart, thereby maintaining the plates H in parallel relation to the forms l3. This arrangement has the advantage of causing the pressing plates I 4 to be lifted from the forms and guided for a certain distance parallel to the forms before they diverge outwardly by reason of the inclined chain section C, as illustrated in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 6 the pressing plates ll may also be shaped in accordance with the forms, the foot portions 42, when the apparatus is to be used for treating stockings for example, then assuming a position within range ofthe preceding plate.

It will be understood that numerous embodiments of this invention are quite possible within the meaning of the above description and the annexed claims, so that the specific embodiments referred to in the above are intended merely to be illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:-

1. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conarticles comprising a continuouslymoving con-' veyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to redriving elements, means for bringing said plates ceive a textile article to be treated and shaped,

carried by said conveyor, two' series "of mutually" co-operating presser plates arranged on opposite sides of said conveyor and normally spaced therefrom, means for moving said presser plates bodily to bring them into engagement with the forms and means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance.

2. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped. carried by said conveyor, two driving elements traversing endless paths of travel on opposite sides of said conveyor, means for driving said driving elements, two series of mutually co-operating presser plates carried individually by said driving elements, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms and means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said iorm over a certain distance.

3. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two driving elements traversing endless paths of travel on-opposite,

sides of said conveyor, means for driving said driving elements, two series of mutually co-operating presser plates carried individually by said driving elements, means for bringing said plates individually into a position parallel to the conveyor as they approach same and for moving said presser plates parallelto but spaced from.

the forms for a certain distance, means for bringing said presser platesinto engagement with the forms and means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance.

4. Apparatus'for treating and shaping textile articles comprising ,a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two driving elements traversing endless paths of travel on opposite sides of said conveyor, means for driving said driving elements, two series of mutually co-operating presser plates carried individually by said driving elements, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms, means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance, means for removing said presser plates in a parallel manner away from said forms after they have travelled therewith through the machine and means for causing said presser plates thereafter to travel fora certain distance parallel to the form from which they have been disengaged. a

5. Apparatus for treatingand shaping textile veyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a' textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two driving elements traversing endless paths of travel on opposite sides of said conveyor, means for driving said driving elements, two series of mutually co-operating presser plates carriedv individually by said individually into a position parallel to the conveyor as they approach same and for moving said presser plates parallel to but spaced from the forms for a certain distance, means for bringing said presser plates/into engagement with the forms, means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over'a certain distance, means for removing said presser plates in a parallel manner away from said forms after they have travelled therewith through the machine and means for causing said presser plates thereafter to travel for a certain distance parallel to the form from which they have been disengaged,

6. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles'comprising-a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped,

carried by said conveyor, two' driving elements travel together with said form over a certain distance, outstanding abutments on the following edges of said presser plates, a wedge member engageable by said abutments after the presser plates on which'they are carried have travelled with the form over the given distance and extension surfaces on said wedge member located parallel to the conveyor whereby the presser plates are first moved in a parallel manner away from the form with which they are engaged and are thereafter caused to travel for a certain distance parallel to the said form.

7. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping'formaeach to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped,

carried by said conveyor, two driving elements traversing endless paths of travel on opposite sides of said conveyor, means for driving said driving elements, two series of mutually 607-01381- ating presser plates carried individually by said driving elements, means for bringing said plates individually into a position parallel to the conveyor as they approach same and for moving said presser plates parallel to butspaced from the forms for a certain distance, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms, means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carrled by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance, outstanding abutments on the following edges of said presser plates, a wedge member engageable by said abutments after the presser plates on which they are carried have travelled with vtheform over the given distance and extension surfaces to said wedge member located parallel on theconveyor' whereby the presser plates are first moved in a parallel manner away from the form with which they are engaged and'are thereafter caused to travel for a certain distance parallel to the said form.

8. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with, said conveyor, two series of mutually co-operating presser plates carried by said driving chains, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms and means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance. a

9. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to re ceive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, two series of mutually co-operating presser plates carried by said driving chains, means for bringing saidplates individually into a position parallelto the conveyor as they approach same and for moving said presser plates parallel to but spaced from the forms for a certain distance, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms and means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance.

10. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, two

series of mutually co-operating presser plates carried by said driving chains, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms, means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance, means for removing said presser plates in, a parallel manner away from said forms after they have travelled therewith throughthe machine and means for causing said presser plates thereafter to travel for a certaindistance parallel to the form from which they have been disengaged.

11. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chainsadapted to move with said conveyor, two series of mutually co-operating presser plates carried by said driving chains, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms, means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance, outstanding abutments on the following edges of said presser plates, a wedge member engageable by said abutments after the presser plates on which they are carried have travelled with the form over the given distance and extension surfaces on said wedge member located parallel to the conveyor whereby the presser plates are first moved in a parallel manner away from the form with which they are engaged and are thereafter caused to travel for a certain distance parallel to the said form. V

12. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, the

path of said chains including two parts of different lengths, the shorter of which is disposed nearer the conveyor, and two inclined parts, two series of mutually co-operating presser plates carried by said driving chains, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms and means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance.

13. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a pluralityof shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, a plurality of pairs of presser plates each co-operating with a form, means for mounting the individual presser plates of said pairs each on one of said driving chains, means for allowing said presser plates to rock with respect to said chains, means for allowing reciprocatory movement of said presser plates transversely to the length of the chains on which they are mounted, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms and means for causing said presser plates Whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance.

14. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, a

plurality of pairs of presser plates each co-operating with a form, means for mounting the individual presser plates of said pairs each on one of said driving chains, means for allowing said presser plates to rock with respect to said chains, means for allowing reciprocatory movement of said presser plates transversely to the length of the chains on which they are mounted, means for bringing said plates individually into a position parallel to the conveyor as they approach same and for moving said presser plates parallel to but spaced from the forms for a certain distance, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms and means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance.

15. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, a plurality of pairs of presser plates each'co-operating with a form, means for mounting the individual presser plates of said pairs each on one of said driving chains, means for allowing said presser plates to rock with respect to said chains, means for allowing reciprocatory movement of said presser'plates transversely to the length of the chains on which they are mounted,

' means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms, means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance, means for removing said presser plates in a parallel manner away from said forms after they have travelled therewith through the machine and means for causing said presser plates thereafter to travel for a certain distance parallel to the form from which they have been disengaged.

16. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, a plurality of pairs of presser plates each co-opcrating with a form, a lug disposed on each plate intermediate the edges of the same, a pinand-slot connection between each of said lugs and said driving chains, flat blade springs controlling said pin-and-slot connections and engaging at their free ends with the marginal zones of said plates, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms and means forcausing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance.

17. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, a plurality of pairs of presser plates each co-operating with a form, a lug disposed on each plate intermediate the edges of the same, a pin-andslot connection between each of said lugs and said driving chains, fiat blade springs controlling said pin-and-slot connections and engaging at their free ends with the marginal zones of said plates, means for bringing said plates individually into a position parallel to the conveyor as they approach same and for moving said presser plates parallel to but spaced from the forms for a certain distance, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms and means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance.

18. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, a plurality of pairs of presser plates each co-op crating with a form, a lug disposed on each plate intermediate the edges of the same, a pin-andslot connection between each of said lugs and said driving chains, flat blade springs controlling said pin-and-slot connections and engaging at their free ends with the marginal zones of said plates, means for bringing said presser plates into engagement with the forms, means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance, means for removing said presser plates in a parallel manner away from said forms after they have travelled therewith through the machine and means for causing said presser plates thereafter to travel for a certain distance parallel to the form from which they have been disengaged.

19. Apparatus for treating and shaping textile articles comprising a continuously moving conveyor, a plurality of shaping forms, each to receive a textile article to be treated and shaped, carried by said conveyor, two endless driving chains adapted to move with said conveyor, a plurality of pairs of presser plates each' co-operating with a form, a lug disposed on each plate intermediate the edges of the same, a pin-andslot connection between each of said lugs and said driving chains, flat blade springs controlling said pinand-slot connections and engaging at their free ends with the marginal zones of said plates, means for bringing-said presser plates into engagement with the forms, means for causing said presser plates whilst still in engagement with the article carried by the form to travel together with said form over a certain distance, outstanding abutments on the following edges of said presser plates, a wedge member engageable by said abutments after the presser plates on which they are carried have travelled with the form over the given distance and extension surfaces on said wedge member located parallel to the conveyor whereby the presser plates are first moved in a parallel manner away from the form with which they are engaged and are thereafter caused to travel for a certain distance parallel to the said form.

20. Apparatus for treating and shaping articles consisting in the combination of an endless conveyor arranged to travel in a predetermined path, shaping forms carried by said conveyor, pressing elements for simultaneously engaging opposite sides of said forms in pressing relation, means to cause said elements to assume said pressing relation at one place in the travel of said forms, means to move said elements with said forms whilemaintaining said pressing relation, and means to release said pressing relation at a different place in the travel of said forms.

FRITZ SCHUSTER. 

